A well-designed courtyard, patio or terrace is a true delight – here are some ideas to make them green and interesting year-round
SEAMLESS BLEND
A courtyard with no level change makes for a smooth transition from inside to outside. ‘Enchanting in its simplicity, this herringbone-style brick terrace offers a seamless extension to the kitchen as well as posing a pretty focal point from within,’ says Alasdair Cameron from Cameron of this Georgian farmhouse in Devon. ‘In late winter, scent from sarcococca diffuses into the kitchen and in summer the stunning rambling rose Francis E Lester offers a sweet blossomy scent.’ Grey dining furniture – perfect for an alfresco lunch or evening barbecue – echoes the paintwork of the windows.
BOLD LANDSCAPING CHOICES
A central square ‘pad’ creates a calming pause in a courtyard space. In this historic farmhouse in rural Kent, Harriet Farlam of Farlam & Chandler designed a detailed paving pattern. ‘It’s important for the materials within a courtyard to work together in harmony with their context and built surroundings,’ says Harriet. ‘In this case we chose a clay paver and Kentish peg tile; materials both used locally and within the main house.’ The pattern creates a focal point within the courtyard and a central meeting point which connects various paths leading to different areas in the wider garden – aparking courtyard, pool garden and formal lawn.
SALVAGE WORK
Walling and its treatment contribute hugely to how a garden feels. ‘Too high and too stark and the space can feel tight and overwhelming,’ says Helen Elks-Smith. ‘Get them right and they can contribute to the space feeling protected and secure.’ In this Isle of Wight town garden, a typical island wall had fallen into disrepair and was lost under dense vegetation. ‘The boundary wall has been carefully and skilfully rebuilt using island stone in a traditional method using lime mortars, giving the garden a strong sense of place, anchored into its surroundings,’ says Helen. The paving here was also salvaged from site and reused with additional paving reclaimed locally to extend the terraces.
ON THE DECKS
Lay hardwood flooring such as iroko, ipe and balau for a long-life wooden surface that looks and feels good on a small footprint. ‘By combining natural timber decking with soft furnishings and textures, we created an inviting outdoor “room” within this London townhouse courtyard,’ explains Clara Ewart, head of design at interior design practice Kitesgrove. ‘The style of the chair lends itself well to both relaxing and lounging, as well as dining. The addition of a striped outdoor rug not only helps to break up the space, but enhances the indoor-outdo
